31st August 2021
Tyre Firm And Landlord Fined Following Routine Council Inspection
Blues Tyres Birmingham Ltd was visited by a council Environmental Health Officer (EHO) for a routine Health & Safety inspection in February 2019.
During the inspection, a vehicle platform lift was found to be dangerous. The machinery had a missing safety gate and had also had its safety interlock and mains control panel bypassed.
The company was issued with a Prohibition Notice meaning that the machinery could not be used until the issues had been rectified and the enforcing authorities were happy for the work activity to commence again.
In June 2019 another council EHO was visiting neighbouring premises to Blues Tyres. Whilst visiting, they saw that the lift had been switched back on to the mains without the issues raised in the initial inspection having been rectified.
Despite no injuries having been incurred by any persons, the transgression resulted in prosecutions for both the tyre company and the landlord of the premises in question.
Blues Tyres Birmingham Ltd was prosecuted under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act for failing to fulfil their general duties to their employees and provide and maintain plant and systems that are safe and without risks to health.
The landlord – 365 Services Ltd, was prosecuted under Section 4(2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act as they have a general duty as a person connected with a premises to ensure that any plant or substance in the premises or provided for use there is or are safe and without risks to health.
Blue Tyres Birmingham Ltd was fined £26,677 and ordered to pay costs of £3,751.
365 Services Ltd were fined £16,666 and ordered to pay costs of £4,000.
